Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called for a comprehensive, impartial and time-bound investigation into the d*eath of 20-year-old Assamese student Himashree Boro, whose body was recovered from a forest in Andhra Pradesh after she went missing during a train journey.
On October 9, the Chief Minister wrote to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, seeking their intervention to ensure a detailed investigation into the incident.
The Chief Minister said that a senior Assam Police official had been sent to Andhra Pradesh to coordinate with the local administration and law enforcement agencies and assist in the investigation.
Expressing deep grief over Himashree’s death, Sarma extended his condolences to her family. In a social media post, he said, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Himashree Boro. I extend my heartfelt condolences to her family during this difficult time.”
According to the Chief Minister’s letter, Himashree, a resident of Kamrup district and a student of B. Borooah College in Guwahati, had travelled to Visakhapatnam with a dance troupe. She was returning to Guwahati from there.
On October 5, she boarded the Dibrugarh Vivek Express (Train No. 22503) from Visakhapatnam. The following day, October 6, her family received a disturbing message from her. According to the Chief Minister’s letter, she had expressed fear over the presence of several men around her.
Himashree went missing soon afterwards. Her bag was recovered from the train’s S-2 coach. Her body was later found in a forest near Malayapuram in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district.
Stating that the circumstances surrounding the incident had raised serious suspicions and warranted an examination of possible criminal links, the Chief Minister urged his Andhra Pradesh counterpart to order a comprehensive investigation. He called for the entire sequence of events—from Himashree boarding the train to her disappearance and the subsequent recovery of her body—to be thoroughly investigated.
In his letter to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Sarma also sought a detailed inquiry through the railway authorities into the circumstances of Himashree’s death and the events that took place during her train journey.
Himanta Biswa Sarma said the incident had caused deep grief and concern across Assam. He also stressed the need to swiftly identify anyone found responsible, bring them to justice and ensure appropriate punishment under the law.
In a social media post, the Chief Minister said, “The safety of the people of Assam, wherever they may be, remains our highest priority.”
Further details regarding the investigation were not immediately available.